Americans generally support a free enterprise, open market economic system. We have a disdain for government control and regulations. That was one reason Donald Trump was elected president. Many of his core supporters like the idea of “government being run like a business.”
That assumes, of course, that businesses are superior ethically to government.
But that isn’t always the case, as several recent examples have dramatically demonstrated.
Big businesses are no more moral or ethical than big government. Institutional values, good or bad, can be found in any situation. And while the notion that competition tempers businesses to “do good” while the lack of competition encourages government to embrace corruption is popular, that isn’t always how it works out.

The most dramatic example of an unethical and a stupid businesses action was the recent assault of a passenger who was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight by security officials.
In what universe is it appropriate to use physical violence to remove someone from an airplane who isn’t a danger to himself or others?
United has come under intense fire for that action, as it should.
Back in the 1980s when U.S. airlines were deregulated, it was supposed to lead to better service, more competition and lower fares. And for a while, that did happen. Small airlines popped up, more competition hit the marketplace and fares did go down.
Yet something else happened over time. The small guys got gobbled up by the bigger airlines. Customer service went to hell. In addition to the recent United incident, airlines have abused passengers by making them sit for hours on tarmacs awaiting takeoff during storms. And airlines have been shrinking seat sizes to pack more human cattle into the plane.
While some basic fares stayed low, add-on charges have become commonplace so that the deals aren’t what they once were when the airlines were first deregulated.
Air travel is now dominated by only a handful of airlines as it was before deregulation, but customer service is worse.
Was that a victory for the consumer or the free market, or did we just trade one set of problems for another?

The banking world is another area where competition doesn’t seem to have much of a modifying effect on business practices. The Great Recession was caused, in part, by some unethical practices giving loans to people who couldn’t afford them.
You would think that given what happened in that fiasco, banks would today have modified their institutional systems to be more ethical.
Enter Wells Fargo. The giant bank has been the focus of a huge scandal where customers were abused by institutional impulses, including the opening of fake accounts customers never approved. In a report released this month, the bank’s conduct was found to be appalling, starting with its top officials.
How did that happen in the shadow of the recession’s hard lessons?
In the medical world, Mylan ran up the price of emergency Epipens last year for no apparent reason other than greed, leading to a Congressional hearing.
Over at Fox News, Roger Ailes was ousted over sexual harassment allegations and the cable network’s star, Bill O’Reilly is also facing accusations of sexual harassment to the point where advertisers are fleeing his show.
What’s going on here?
Well, nothing really new.
For all its posturing, the business community is no more innocent of human foibles than any other segment of our society. Greed, exploitation, abuse and a shortage of common sense can be found anywhere.
Which may not be a good sign for our current government. Trump has surrounded himself with business leaders in an effort to upend government as we know it. His campaign was in part focused on building a booming economy by getting rid of regulations and “doing deals” with other nations and by pressuring American businesses from going offshore.
But what if those deals are just a corrupt or self-serving as the regulations and deals they are supposed to replace? What if we are just looking to trade one set of problems for another?
Businesses are usually pretty secretive. They want to protect their intellectual capital and trade secrets.
That secretive attitude is now translating into government where the Trump Administration is embracing less transparency. Trump himself refuses to release his tax returns; we don’t know if he has conflicts of interest as president or not.
And Trump’s open assault on environmental regulations raises some very disturbing issues. Those who remember what big cities smelled like in the 1970s before pollution controls know what I’m talking about.
Secrecy in government is a bad thing. One of the major things that separates the U.S. from many other nations is that the level of our public corruption is much less. Our openness helps curtail the massive amount of public corruption that exists in many other places around the world.
But corruption grows in darkness and the shifting toward increased secrecy in our government institutions is a bad sign. Under-the-table deal-making and the lack of openness will, over time, make our government more corrupt. It’s inevitable.
Free enterprise is the best, most robust economic system in the world. But it’s not perfect and there is a role for government in regulating the excesses of market greed and stupidity.
You have to wonder, however, just where that balance will be found under an administration that is aggressively hyper-business?
Government is not business and the two should not be confused.

Mike Buffington is co-publisher of Mainstreet Newspapers. He can be reached at mike@mainstreetnews.com.

Agreed. Man's heart is wicked. Where grace fails, the law will prevail. What separates us from most other countries is the fact we have strong law and order. Where the law is broken, the government needs to move swiftly to punish the corrupt. Glass-Steagle needs to be restored. Common sense legislation to prevent another crash. Government has a huge role in common sense regulation. And when there is a crash, there needs to be a huge infusion of cash into the economy to prevent another depression. This is not how a business should operate but for government and the people it is a necessity. But there are ridiculous over-regulations that only stifle economic growth that we need to prosper. Where econonic progress is stifled by government for imaginary man-made climate change there is real anger from the people that know when they're being had. Government is a necessary evil.

I'm just guessing you're old enough not to really care about climate change--you'll probably be dead before it can kill you, so who cares? Denying it is as stupid at claiming the earth is flat, being a 911 truther, a Sandy Hook truther, or a moon landing denier.

As a moon landing denier, I feel discriminated against by your post. I have spent countless days researching how it is fake. YOU ARE THE CRAZY ONE! The government is lying to you about climate change and North Korea. North Korea is where the climate change hoax started. I hope you come around and see that they are! I can't wait for Trump to nuke north Korea.

BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!BUSH DID 9/11!

Timmy, I completely agree with your statement. We are being oppressed here by the ignorance of these imbeciles. These poor people can't help but believe bush had no part within the bombing of the world trade centers. Truthfully I don't think they can open their eyes and see that it was actually Bush him self who flew the planes!
Bush did it so he could make the world round again, and he is a hero for it!

The earth will be fine millions of years after you're gone. Scientists have been caught red-handed manipulating climate data to support their point of view. I believe we should take care of the earth but changing the climate is not something I stay up at night worrying about. Increased CO2 has not been proven to cause climate change, in fact, plants love it and this would cause further vegetation. The earth is in balance. I assume, because of your disrespect for your elders that you are a child still. Do not let academia brainwash you. Try to think for yourself. Any medium sized volcano will spew more pollution in one eruption than mankind ever did or ever will. Group think is ignorant. But if you must, enjoy your ignorance.

Yeah. Random person says something about his intelligence or academic credentials on the internet so it's obviously true. Did you get it at Trump University? Is it in botany?

"Science" is really broad, and it can include anything technically that confers a bachelor of science. Like "management," "international affairs," "science, history, and technology." For examples. So saying you have some unspecified "science degree" gives me no confidence that you have some knowledge then entire science community lacks.

Climate change denial is harmful to us all, and if you don't know what you're talking about, you should at least not spew ignorance to the public.

There is no scientific consensus on climate change. Yes, it's changing. It has always changed and always will. Mars has suffered some warming. Do you really believe the Republicans did that too? You're a fool. Just because Al Gore says it's true doesn't make it so. Follow the money. Under Obama there was plenty of research money for the religion of climate change but none for the other side that could explore other causes. Spending $trillions on climate change is stupid. But maybe the tooth fairy will leave some change under your pillow.

First off, how is regulating U.S airlines going to stop delays due to severe weather? LOL and why is it the governments job to ensure a 400 pound dude's MASSIVE butt can fit in a Spirit Airlines plastic seat? I'll happily sit in a uncomfortable seat if I can fly to Vegas round trip for $100...

Second, the Federal Reserve was created in 1914 to cut back on bank failures but then 1930s roll around... CRASSSHHHHH.

The government is not smarter than the free market, it sure thinks it is though... and a lot of you libs actually believe them.

The Fed didn't act in as fast or as strong of a manner as it should have in the early years. The regulation following the depression led to the longest period of bank stability the US ever had, and so much of the issues leading into the 2008 recession were due to actions that were previously regulated but removed by both Clinton and Bush.

Government isn't smarter, but has a different mandate from business. Business has an obligation only to its shareholders. Government has a mandate to protect its citizens.

It always works until it doesn't is what you are saying. So let's just trust the government and hope it's not our generation that watches the government fail again... and again.... and again...

"protecting its citizens" is obviously being interpreted differently. Mike's argument that the decline in customer service or airline seat size is a responsibility of the government to improve is absurd.

I'm saying government isn't smarter than the free market, nor is the free market smarter than government. They have different roles and responsibilities. I agree that forcing airlines to accommodate every person over certain weights might be much, but accommodating those with disabilities is very much a responsibility of government that I would support.

Customer service, there is a role to be played by government to protect consumer rights - whether it be the airlines selling what amounts to a contract that they feel are voidable at any time or our local internet provider selling services that they know they cannot provide. Business will push that envelope, and individuals by themselves are in a very weak position to fight back without the strength of government to step in and assist. RIght now, the laws and regulations are on the sides of those businesses and individuals are powerless to do much.

You stated “Generally, Americans have a disdain for government control and regulations.” You are 100% spot on; that is
exactly why we have our America today and it took the Revolutionary War to gain our freedom from the government controls and
regulations.

Let us not beat around the bush here. Many of our government employees who have the authority to make financial decisions
respective to their government agencies are influenced by private enterprises. The influence by the private sectors over and with
many of our government employees is more extensive than most people could ever imagine. It is my opinion that the majority of our
national debt is the direct result of collusion between many government employees and private contractors, consultants, etc. Mike,
even if money is not involved between the two parties, many government employees with purchasing power simply want a solution
that will make their job, day, week, and career to be easier and less painless–it is simply human nature.

Final thoughts: who are the major benefactors and lobbyist that continue “their” war against legalizing marijuana?
If you guessed alcohol companies and government unions then you guessed correctly. Simply Google and take a look at the amount
of revenues, taxes, and other forms of income that are generated by outlawing a naturally occurring plant version the manufacturing of
one the most toxic, addictive, and deadly substances known to man. (Look at the revenues governments take in on alcohol and tobacco.)

(Is anyone even paying attention to the predicted mini-ice age that is predicted to occur in the next 30 years –by a few NASA scientists
and other scientists? The global warming industry generates billions of dollors each year so I guess we just need to focus on that for now.)

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